Trump Didn’t Want to Win and 8 Other Surprises in Michael Wolff’s Explosive Book Excerpt

Michael Wolff’s book detailing the turmoil within the White House during the first year Donald Trump’s presidency is set to be published on Monday, but explosive excerpts and the book’s juiciest details are already online.

From former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon’s criticism and mockery of the president — before and after his firing — to the political aspirations of Ivanka Trump, to Trump’s fear of being poisoned, here are nine surprising details from excerpts and quotes of “Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House” published in New York magazine, The Guardian and The Washington Post.

Everyone thought Trump would lose the election, including Trump himself.

According to Wolff, Trump didn’t want to become president. The ultimate goal of his bid for the White House was to become a “martyr” to Hillary Clinton and to become “the most famous man in the world.”

For those involved in his campaign, the goal was to lose by as small a margin as possible and then, after November, parlay their raised national profiles into bigger and better opportunities.

“His daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared would be international celebrities,” Wolff wrote. “Steve Bannon would become the de facto head of the Tea Party movement. Kellyanne Conway would be a cable news star. Melania Trump, who had been assured by her husband that he wouldn’t become president, could return to inconspicuously lunching. Losing would work out for everybody. Losing was winning.”

Much of Wolff’s book is dedicated to detailing how difficult it is for Trump’s advisers to manage his attention and influence his decisions. Former deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh told Wolff that trying to follow Trump’s decision-making process was “like trying to figure out what a child wants.”

It’s for this reason why former Fox News executive Roger Ailes turned down an offer to take over the floundering campaign before his death.

“In early August [2016], less than a month after Ailes had been ousted from Fox News, Trump asked his old friend to take over the management of his calamitous campaign,” Wolff wrote. “Ailes, knowing Trump’s disinclination to take advice, or even listen to it, turned him down.”

Trump didn’t know who John Boehner was.

With no desire to win the White House, Trump had little plan for how to proceed with his post-election transition. Ailes, a longtime friend and confidante, recommended former House Speaker John Boehner to serve as his chief of staff. To which Trump replied: “Who’s that?”

Rupert Murdoch called Trump a “f—ing idiot.”

Murdoch “had long disdained [Trump] as a charlatan and fool,” but once he became president Trump frequently turned to the media mogul for counsel, according to Wolff.

After a pre-inauguration meeting with Silicon Valley executives, Trump called Murdoch to brag that the tech execs “really need my help.” Murdoch replied, “Donald, for eight years these guys had Obama in their pocket. They practically ran the administration. They don’t need your help.”

Compared to past presidents, Trump was unmoved by the palatial elements and large White House staff, Wolff wrote. In fact, the self-described billionaire preferred his own lavish lifestyle at Trump Tower, which was more tailored to his liking.

In order to accommodate his wishes, three TVs were installed in his bedroom (separate from First Lady Melania Trump) and staff were instructed to not clean up after him. “If my shirt is on the floor, it’s because I want it on the floor,” he told housekeeping staff. Trump also decides when his sheets will be cleaned, and strips them from the bed himself.

He eats McDonald’s for fear of poison.

Another one of Trump’s rules for housekeeping staff is the strict instruction that no one should ever touch his toothbrush. The president reportedly has a fear of being poisoned and will not let even his own staff touch something that goes in his mouth.

This is the same reason he so frequently eats McDonald’s, Wolff wrote, “nobody knew he was coming and the food was safely premade.”

Ivanka Trump has her own political ambitions.

Bannon reportedly took to calling the First Daughter and her husband “Jarvanka” for the way the couple played off one another, according to Wolff. The couple’s influence over the president put them at odds with Bannon and chief of staff Reince Preibus during the early days of the administration, but Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner were thinking far beyond their father’s term in office.

Both Ivanka and Kushner accepted formal jobs in the White House, hoping that would boost their own future careers. The couple made a deal that if the chance should arise, Ivanka would be the one to run for president.

According to Wolff, even Trump’s daughter has mocked his hair privately to friends and associates:

“She often described the mechanics behind it to friends: an absolutely clean pate — a contained island after scalp-reduction ­surgery — surrounded by a furry circle of hair around the sides and front, from which all ends are drawn up to meet in the center and then swept back and secured by a stiffening spray. The color, she would point out to comical effect, was from a product called Just for Men — the longer it was left on, the darker it got. Impatience resulted in Trump’s orange-blond hair color.”

Bannon thinks Trump Tower meeting was “treasonous.”

A 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and Russian officials was described as “treasonous” and “unpatriotic” by Bannon in an on-the-record quote to Wolff. “They’re going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV,” he said, referring to the ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia.

“Even if you thought that this was not treasonous, or unpatriotic, or bad shit, and I happen to think it’s all of that, you should have called the FBI immediately,” Bannon said, slamming Trump Jr. for failing to have lawyers at the meeting.

Trump issued a statement in response to Bannon’s quotes, insisting that his former chief strategist “has nothing to do with” his presidency and would not be in a position to speak authoritatively on the subject.

“When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind,” the president said, later adding, “Steve was rarely in a one-on-one meeting with me and only pretends to have had influence to fool a few people with no access and no clue, whom he helped write phony books.”

Here's Everyone Donald Trump Insulted on Twitter in 2017 (Photos)

From fellow politicians to Oscar winners and musicians, President Donald Trump casts a wide net in his internet insultery.

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Rahm Emanuel

On Jan. 2, Trump tweeted, "Chicago murder rate is record setting - 4,331 shooting victims with 762 murders in 2016. If Mayor can't do it he must ask for Federal help!"

The swipe at Emanuel allowed Trump to take a shot both at an elected Democratic Mayor, and his predecessor (for whom Rahm served as Chief of Staff.)

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

On May 9, Trump tweeted, "Cryin' Chuck Schumer stated recently, "I do not have confidence in him (James Comey) any longer." Then acts so indignant. #draintheswamp"

The Senate Minority leader has become a frequent critic of — and thus a frequent target for — Trump

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Arnold Schwarzenegger

On Feb. 3, Trump tweeted, "Yes, Arnold Schwarzenegger did a really bad job as Governor of California and even worse on the Apprentice...but at least he tried hard!

The terminator has had some tough words for Trump and so the president hit back where it hurts — Schwarzenegger's ratings for "The Apprentice" (which he briefly hosted).

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Meryl Streep

On Jan. 9, Trump tweeted, "Meryl Streep, one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood, doesn't know me but attacked last night at the Golden Globes.

Streep had some choice words for Trump during her speech at the Golden Globes and the president noticed.

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Rep. John Lewis

On Jan. 14, Trump tweeted, "Congressman John Lewis should spend more time on fixing and helping his district, which is in horrible shape and falling apart..."

The Congressman vowed to boycott Trump's inauguration, infuriating the newly elected president.

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Chelsea Manning

On Jan. 26, Trump tweeted, "Ungrateful TRAITOR Chelsea Manning, who should never have been released from prison, is now calling President Obama a weak leader. Terrible!"

Trump, it seems, was not a fan of President Obama's decision to commute Manning's sentence.

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal

On Feb. 9, Trump tweeted, "Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who never fought in Vietnam when he said for years he had (major lie), now misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him?"

Blumenthal is a near constant presence on MSNBC criticizing Trump — so this counterpunch was pretty much inevitable.

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Mark Cuban

On Feb. 12, Trump tweeted, "I know Mark Cuban well. He backed me big-time but I wasn't interested in taking all of his calls. He's not smart enough to run for president!"

Cuban, a fellow billionaire and Hillary Clinton ally has made a point of getting under Trump's skin throughout 2017.

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DNC Chairman Thomas Perez

On Feb. 25, Trump tweeted, "Congratulations to Thomas Perez, who has just been named Chairman of the DNC. I could not be happier for him, or for the Republican Party!

On May 10, Trump tweeted, "James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI."

Trump fired FBI Director James Comey in May and has been angry at him ever since.

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Kathy Griffin

On May 31, Trump tweeted, "Kathy Griffin should be ashamed of herself. My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are having a hard time with this. Sick!"

Griffin took enormous incoming fire after a photo of her holding a model of Donald Trump's severed head went viral for all the wrong reasons.

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"Crooked" Hillary Clinton

Trump has mocked Hillary plenty of times, but recently on November 18, Trump tweeted, "Crooked Hillary Clinton is the worst (and biggest) loser of all time. She just can’t stop, which is so good for the Republican Party. Hillary, get on with your life and give it another try in three years!"

Not much explanation needed here. Trump bested "Crooked" Hillary in 2016 and seems intent on reminding us for ever and ever and ever.

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Sadiq Khan

On June 5, Trump tweeted, "Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his "no reason to be alarmed" statement. MSM is working hard to sell it!"

When terrorism strikes London, the city's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, often finds himself in Trump's crosshairs.

"I heard poorly rated @Morning_Joe speaks badly of me (don't watch anymore). Then how come low I.Q. Crazy Mika, along with Psycho Joe, came o Mar-a-Lago 3 nights in a row around New Year's Eve, and insisted on joining me. She was bleeding badly from a face-lift. I said no!"

Widely considered one of Trump's nastiest burns, the president was likely incensed by something the pair said on "Morning Joe."

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Jeff Sessions

On July 25, Trump tweeted,"Attorney General Jeff Sessions has taken a VERY weak position on Hillary Clinton crimes (where are E-mails & DNC server) & Intel leakers!"

Trump went through a rough patch with his Attorney General and has long been cranky about Session's decision to recuse himself from the Russia probe.

"Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists. and people like Ms. Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can't forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!"

Graham has occasionally lightly criticized Trump and the president doesn't appreciate it

"The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump. Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help. They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort. 10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job"

Cruz criticized Trump's handling of hurricanes in Puerto Rico and the president shot right back

"Ed Gillespie worked hard but did not embrace me or what I stand for. Don’t forget, Republicans won 4 out of 4 House seats, and with the economy doing record numbers, we will continue to win, even bigger than before!"

Though Trump campaigned hard for Ed Gillespie in Virginia, when he lost the governor's race to Ralph Northam, Trump threw him under the bus.

"Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!"

Trump claimed credit for getting Ball's son out of a Chinese prison, but then blasted him for being insufficiently grateful.

"So now that Matt Lauer is gone when will the Fake News practitioners at NBC be terminating the contract of Phil Griffin? And will they terminate low ratings Joe Scarborough based on the “unsolved mystery” that took place in Florida years ago? Investigate!"

"PM Theresa @theresamay, don’t focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!"

May blasted Trump's decision to retweet a far-right British group and Trump told her to mind her own business.

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Brian Ross

On December 2, Trump tweeted:

"Congratulations to @ABC News for suspending Brian Ross for his horrendously inaccurate and dishonest report on the Russia, Russia, Russia Witch Hunt. More Networks and “papers” should do the same with their Fake News!"

Trump gave Ross the business for reporting inaccurate news about Michael Flynn.

"LAST thing the Make America Great Again Agenda needs is a Liberal Democrat in Senate where we have so little margin for victory already. The Pelosi/Schumer Puppet Jones would vote against us 100% of the time. He’s bad on Crime, Life, Border, Vets, Guns & Military. VOTE ROY MOORE!"

Trump threw all his chips in for Roy Moore in Alabama, despite Moore being accused of sexual misconduct with minors. It didn't work, and "puppet Jones" was triumphant.

"@DaveWeigel @WashingtonPost put out a phony photo of an empty arena hours before I arrived @ the venue, w/ thousands of people outside, on their way in. Real photos now shown as I spoke. Packed house, many people unable to get in. Demand apology & retraction from FAKE NEWS WaPo"

The President was annoyed over a misleading Tweet from Weigel which the reporter deleted and apologized for

"Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office “begging” for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!"

Gillibrand called on Trump to resign over sexual misconduct allegations eliciting a predictable response

"How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin’ James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wife’s campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?"

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Roy Moore

On December 23, Trump tweeted: "Remember, the Republicans are 5-0 in Congressional races this year. In Senate, I said Roy M would lose in Alabama and supported Big Luther Strange - and Roy lost. Virginia candidate was not a 'Trumper,' and he lost. Good Republican candidates will win BIG!"

While Trump did support Luther Strange in the Republican primary, he later endorsed Moore -- and campaigned actively for him in December's special election.

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Anna Wintour

On December 28, Trump tweeted: "Vanity Fair, which looks like it is on its last legs, is bending over backwards in apologizing for the minor hit they took at Crooked H. Anna Wintour, who was all set to be Amb to Court of St James’s & a big fundraiser for CH, is beside herself in grief & begging for forgiveness!"

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POTUS’s thumbs were quite busy in his first year in the White House

From fellow politicians to Oscar winners and musicians, President Donald Trump casts a wide net in his internet insultery.